Lee signals conciliatory shift on N. Korea, moves to revive past accords

President Lee Jae Myung directed government ministries, Monday, to prepare for the phased implementation of existing inter-Korean agreements, in a significant shift from his predecessor's hard-line stance toward Pyongyang. Presiding over a Cabinet meeting, Lee urged officials to begin with steps that could be implemented immediately, signaling his administration’s intent to ease tensions and take a more conciliatory stance toward Pyongyang. The call came on the day that South Korea and the United States launched their annual Ulchi Freedom Shield joint military exercise. Lee emphasized that inter-Korean relations remain critical amid a rapidly shifting security landscape. The directive marks a distinct departure from the policy of the previous Yoon Suk Yeol administration, which had largely dismissed previous accords with North Korea as nonbinding and often counterproductive. While Yoon had prioritized strengthening the alliance with Washington and confronting what he saw as Pyongyang’s increasingly bellicose behavior, Lee’s directive signals a pivot back toward engagement and a wWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times